Taking into account that Art. Article 38 of the CPR provides that within three months from the date of notification of the decision approving the programme, MC shall be set up, the following is represented.

Art. 8 of Reg. (EU) 2021/1060 of 24/06/2021  (CPR Regulation) provides that Member States for the period 2021-2027 involve the following partners in the preparation of partnership agreements and at all stages of the preparation, implementation and evaluation of programmes:

1. authorities at regional, local, curban and other public authorities;
2. the economic and social partners;
3. relevant bodies representing civil society, such as environmental partners, non-governmental organisations and bodies responsible for promoting social inclusion, fundamental rights, rights of persons with disabilities, gender equality and non-discrimination;
4. research organisations and universities, where appropriate.

 

Art. 29 of Reg. (EU) 2021/1059 of 24/06/2021 (ETC Regulation) provides that the composition of the Monitoring Committee of each INTERREG programme shall be agreed by the Member States participating in the programme, and shall ensure balanced representation:

1. relevant authorities, including intermediate bodies;
2. bodies jointly set up in the whole programme area or covering only part of it, including EGTCs; and
3. representatives of the Programme Partners referred to in Article 8 of Regulation (EU) 2021/1060 from Member States, third countries, partner countries and

The EC sent to Programming Department, Programme Managing Authority, the note ARES(2023) 408020 of 19/01/2023, that recalling the legal basis set out above, also recommended that the selection of partners should be carried out taking into account the principle of representativeness of the relevant stakeholders, in relation to the intended use of the funds contributing to the Programme (policy objectives and target groups) and  taking into account  horizontal principles and specificities  of funds.

The MA assessed the principle of representativeness of the interested parties regarding the objectives that should be achieved with the actions of the programme considers that, for the Italian side, the following Authorities should be identified:

Voting authority:

Presidency of the Council of Ministers - DPCOE / Agency for Territorial Cohesion - ACT

Ministry of Economy and Finance - Department of General Accounting of the State General Inspectorate for Financial Relations with the European Union - I.G.R.U.E.

Department of the Department of Family and Social Policies of the Sicilian Region

Department of the Environment of the Sicilian Region

Department of Labour, Employment, Guidance, Services and Training Activities of the Sicilian Region

Association of Sicilian Municipalities - ANCI SICILIA

Authority with advisory function:

MA ERDF Sicily 2021-2027

MA INTERREG VI A Italy-Tunisia

MA ESF+ Sicilian Region

MA RDP Sicily 2021-2027

Regional Union of Chambers of Commerce Industry Handicrafts Agriculture of Sicily

Conference of Rectors of Italian Universities – Sicilian Region

"Non-governmental organizations" (subject to be identified on the basis of the establishment of the regional partnership table for EU funds 21-27)

“bodies responsible for promoting social inclusion, fundamental rights, rights of persons with disabilities, gender equality and non-discrimination" (subject to be identified on the basis of the establishment of the regional table

The Malta Member State  is chosing the entities and their representatives (full members and alternates) who must be part of the Authorities with voting function and those with advisory function.

On 13 December 2022, the European Commission adopts the Interreg VI-A Italy-Malta 21-27 cooperation programme to support the European Regional Development Fund under the "European territorial cooperation" objective (Interreg) in Italy and Malta with IMPLEMENTING DECISION C(2022) 9624 final of 13.12.2022

DOWNLOAD THE DECISION

On November 10, DRS No. 1289 of Service 1 "Environmental Authorizations and Evaluations" of the Department of the Environment - Department of Territory and Environment of the Sicilian Region, Competent Authority for the SEA, was published, with which, on the basis of the evaluations and reasons contained in the Environmental Preliminary Repor , the verification provision is adopted excluding the "European Territorial Cooperation Programme Interreg VI-A Italy Malta" from the Strategic Environmental Assessment.

On November 14, the consolidated and final version of the Programme wa sent via SFC, modified on the basis of the 37 observation points of the EC.

Together with the Template, the following were sent:

The Methodological Document accompanying the Programme (ART. 16-17 DRC - REG.(EU) 1060/21)

The List of planned operations of strategic importance with timetable - Art. 17(3)

The table of Feedback to Observations

At the beginning of September 2022, the representatives of the TF of the INTERREG VI-A Italy-Malta program were informed on the negotiation process with the EC and informed on the receipt of observations on the contents of the cooperation programme by the  European Commission (note Ares (2022)6005521 of 08/30/2022)

In order to ensure the widest circulation of the positions expressed by the EC, the Task Force members were then sent the Commission document for the appropriate examination and the release of contributions and useful information as requested by the EC.

Starting from the month of September, the Managing Authority, assisted by the Joint Secretariat, began the phase of examining these observations/recommendations and the relative modification and integration of the text of the programme.

This phase envisaged various moments of sharing documents with colleagues from the Maltese Member State of the Task Force and ended with the preparation of a timely feedback note on the 37 observation points of the EC and the consequent modification of the Programme.

On 15 June, the Managing Authority launched the public consultation process by sharing the final version of the Interreg VI-A Italia Malta programme with all stakeholders, before it was submitted for approval by the European Commission.

This public consultation is carried out in accordance with Article 8 of the Common Provisions Regulation (EU Reg. 2021/1060) and Article 8 of the European Code of Conduct on Partnerships in the European Structural and Investment Funds (EU Reg. 240 /2014).

SEE THE CONSULTATION HERE

On 30th June2022, the public consultation of the programme was concluded and the comments received confirmed the strategic framework of the entire programme which therefore has not undergone any changes compared to what was approved by the Task Force.

With Resolution no. 260 of 17 May 2022 - “Planning of the 2021/2027 Cohesion Policy. Preliminary environmental report for the verification of subjectability to SEA (Strategic Environmental Assessment) of cross-border cooperation programmes (Interreg-VI-A) Italy-Malta and (Interreg VI-A) NEXT Italy-Tunisia” the Sicilian Regional Council decides to appreciate the Environmental Preliminaries Reports for the verification of the suitability to the SEA (Strategic Environmental Assessment) of the cross-border cooperation programmes (Interreg-VI-A) Italy-Malta and (Interreg VI-A) NEXT Italy-Tunisia.

This is an important step for the subsequent presentation of the programme to the European Commission.

The function of the Preliminary Report for the verification of screening for the SEA of the Programme is to provide the information useful for assessing the impact, according to the significance of the repercussions in terms of effects, that the intervention strategy envisaged by the programming could have on the various environmental components, such as to make an in-depth evaluation appropriate through the implementation of the SEA process in its entirety.

The report was subsequently sent to the Territory and Environment Department, in its capacity as Competent Authority for the Verification procedure of subjectability to Strategic Environmental Assessment

On 3 May 2022, at 3:00pm, the fifth meeting of the Task Force for the preparation of the Italia Malta programme for the 2021-2027 programming period took place.

The meeting took place by video conference and the following components were present

Managing Authority
Dipartimento Politiche di Coesione \ Department of Cohesion Policies
Agenzia per la Coesione Territoriale \Agency for Territorial Cohesion
Regione Siciliana - Dipartimento dell’Ambiente Sicilian Region - Department of the Environment
Regione Siciliana – Dipartimento della Famiglia e delle Politiche sociali Sicilian Region – Department of Family and Social Policies
Regione Siciliana – Dipartimento regionale della Programmazione Sicilian Region – Regional Department of Programming
Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs (MFEA) - Strategy and Implementation Division (SID) (chairing for this time)
Ministry for the Economy, European Funds and lands - Funds and Programmes Division (FPD)
Ministry for Finance and Financial Services (MFIN)
Ministry for Gozo (MGOZ)
European Commission
Joint Secretariat
NVVIP Sicilia (Experts invited)

The agenda provided that  Task Force members were updated on the contents of the programme and the SEA procedure.

After extensive discussion on Programme contents , on the Small Projects and on their binding nature, on the methodology for using the Simplified Cost Options, the TF members agreed that the contents included in the program Template, already approved during the last written procedure concluded in April 2022, were fully approved. It was also decided that the representatives of the two MS delegations would make any comments and / or additions no later than 10 working days.

With regard to the update on the SEA procedure, Task Force members were provided by the JS and the Nucleo di Valutazione (invited experts) with the requested clarifications relating to the management methods and timing of the consultations described in the Preliminary SEA Report.

In addition to the explanations on times and methods, the members of the TF approved the contents of the preliminary environmental report and gave a mandate to the MA to initiate the SEA procedure as soon as possible at the competent department.

TF fifth meeting works provided for the discussion on the integration of the comments received from the DPCoE, on the proposal to insert a legend of the acronomics and abbreviations used in the programme, on a revision useful for incorporating the related contents into the programme compliance with the horizontal principles and with the subsequent drafting and transmission of Appendix 3 - List of planned operations of strategic importance with a timetable in Reg. (EU) 1059/2021 and the "Methodological document accompanying the Programme" drawn up pursuant to art. . 16-17 - Reg. (EU) 1060/21

Lastly, to Task Force members has been proposed to modify ISO1 with the SO referred to in letter "d) enhance institutional capacity of public authorities and stakeholders to implement macro-regional strategies and sea-basin strategies, as well as other territorial strategies"; furthermore, it was specified that this modification would not alter the coherence of the proposed actions with respect to the strategy envisaged by the actions.

TF meeting works end at 4:35pm with the updating at subsequent meetings after sending the agreed documents

 

In line with art. 9 of the Task Force procedure rules on 12/04/2022 the Managing Authority closes the fourth written procedure with which the "Summary of the Implementation Strategy of the INTERREG Italia-Malta 2021-2027 programme" is approved, acknowledging the comments expressed by the representatives of the Member States.

On 7 February 2022, at 3:00pm, the fourth meeting of the Task Force for the preparation of the Italia Malta programme for the 2021-2027 programming period took place.

The meeting took place by video conference and the following components were present:

Managing Authority (chairing for the time)
Dipartimento Politiche di Coesione \ Department of Cohesion Policies
Agenzia per la Coesione Territoriale \ Agency for Territorial Cohesion
Regione Siciliana - Dipartimento dell’Ambiente \ Sicilian Region - Department of the Environment
Regione Siciliana – Dipartimento della Famiglia e delle Politiche sociali Sicilian Region – Department of Family and Social Policies
Regione Siciliana – Dipartimento regionale della Programmazione \ Sicilian Region – Regional Department of Programming
Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs (MFEA) - Strategy and Implementation Division (SID)
Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs (MFEA) -  Funds and Programmes Division (FPD)
Ministry for Gozo (MGOZ)
European Commission
Joint Secretariat
NVVIP Sicilia (invited experts)

The agenda initially provided for that to Task Force members would be reported the Results of the consultation activity with the qualified partnership of the cross border area.

The Joint Secretariat then reported on the 5 round tables organized at the end of November 2021 in which 509 subjects from both territories took part, attributable to public bodies, public law bodies, associations and SMEs.

The Joint Secretariat highlighted how the involvement of the stakeholders guaranteed a high and intense participation in the discussion, a high degree of satisfaction with the consultation approach chosen by the Programme Authorities and high expectations regarding the subsequent phases of the consultation process.

The Task Force, through the projection of dedicated slides, examined all the work carried out during the 5 round tables and expressed its positive evaluations on the documents presented.

Meeting work continued with the examination and approval of the document "Summary of the implementation strategy of the INTERREG VI-A Italia-Malta 2021-2027 programme”.

The Joint Secretariat then reported on the structure and contents of the document which consists of 10 chapters which describes the context analysis, the programme strategy, the choice of priorities and specific objectives, the proposal of indicators for future monitoring as well as an initial hypothesis for the distribution of resources.

The members of the Task Force, while sharing the illustrated strategic plan, have decided to postpone the approval of the document to a written procedure. Specifically, as regards the in-depth study of the detailed interventions by the Maltese, there was a need for more time to be devoted to the return of a fully shared document.

Fourth meeting works also provided for updates to be provided on the drafting of the Environmental Report of the Italia-Malta 21-27 programme and specifically on how to start the preliminary screening procedure for SEA.

The works were concluded with the update to a subsequent written procedure.

Pursuant to art. 9 of the task force procedure rules, on 15.02.2022 the written procedure for the examination and approval of the Summary of the Implementation Strategy of the INTERREG Italia-Malta 2021-2027 programme was launched.

Through the fourth written procedure, task force members could express their position in writing within the terms.

In order to consolidate strategic choices and collect ideas and proposals on possible actions and potential beneficiaries to be included in the new programme, the Managing Authority and the Maltese National Coordination Authority, with the support of the Joint Secretariat, organized 5 thematic round tables carried up  according to the following schedule:

- Tourism and Cultural Heritage 23-nov-21 h 10:00am
- Risk Management/Climate change 24-nov-21 h 3:00pm
- Governance 29-nov-21 h 10:00am
- Research & Innovation /Competitiveness 29-nov-21 h 3:00pm
- Environmental Protection 30-nov-21 h 09:00am

The round tables aimed to present the strategy of the future Italia Malta 2021-2027 programme, the strategic objectives, the specific objectives deriving from the territorial analysis and to define, together with the qualified participants, the eligible actions and the main groups of potential beneficiaries of the new programme.

The tables were held through an online participatory discussion methodology which, borrowing the World Café model, aims to create a work environment totally free of stress and external pressures, which inspires the participants and invites them to a free and participatory discussion.

Through this methodology, participants in these tables had the opportunity to discuss together the objectives, purposes and goals of the future Italia Malta Programme and to propose strategic actions / projects that can be financed across borders

The discussions took place both in plenary sessions, animated by qualified speakers, and around small virtual tables or rooms, with a control room placed in the center that launches the topics that are then treated by the groups.

Read here the article pubblished on Programme website

 

The work of this period was aimed at the implementation of what was planned regarding the consultation of the partnership

On November 4th, 2022, the Public Notice of Consolidation of the Qualified Partnership was published on the Italia-Malta Programme website with the aim of expanding and consolidating, for the Italian part of the cross-border area, the list of qualified entities already identified by the Task Force in order to launch consultation tables for the definition of eligible actions to be funded under the Italia-Malta 2021-2027 programme.

All relevant information and documentation can be found in the Consolidation Notice (only in IT)

On 5th November 2022 the same Notice was published on the website of the Planning Department, Managing Authority of the Italia-Malta Programme

 

In October 2021, the Planning Department launches interdepartmental coordination actions for the strategic orientation of the actions of the Italia-Malta 21-27 programme.

As the Managing Authority of the Program, it has in fact organized 4 operational meetings with the representatives of the regional Departments involved in the Policy and Strategic objectives which represent the programmatic basis of the actions of the new Italia-Malta 2021-2027 programme.

The meetings took place according to the following schedule and organizational methodology

Dipartimento regionale Ambiente\Regional Department of the Environment - 19.10.2021 at 10:00am on the online platform

Dipartimento regionale Turismo\Regional Tourism Department - 19.10.2021 at 12.00pm on the online platform

Dipartimento regionale Formazione Professionale\Regional Department of Professional Training - 20.10.2021 at 12:00pm in presence

Dipartimento regionale Attività Produttive\Regional Department of Productive Activities - 20.10.2021 at 3:30pm on the online platform

The meetings had the purpose of

-outlining the possible synergies and complementarities between the Italia Malta Programme and the Sicily ERDF, especially in reference to the benefits expected from their connection within the different strategic objectives

- defining the strategic areas and the related eligible actions for possible intervention of the future Italia-Malta 21-27 programme that could be better capitalized

- collecting "success stories" in order to evaluate a possible cross-border capitalization

The next phase of the planning process (initially scheduled for the end of July 2021) provides for the sharing and acquisition of feedback with the partnership on the planning hypotheses and the subsequent re-elaboration for the purposes of drafting the Programme.

The work of this period concerned the detailed planning of the partnership involvement.

The consultation procedures include the activation of 5 thematic tables (Tourism and cultural heritage, Research and innovation, Competitiveness, Risk management, Environmental protection) and 1 transversal (Governance).

In order to identificate  in the round tables, a list of relevant partners was defined, based on a preliminary screening work conducted by the JS for the Italian side and by the representatives of the Maltese government for Malta.

This list was defined on the basis of a consistency check of each stakeholder (who has also already taken part as beneficiary in the programme) with respect to the cross-border challenges identified by the TF.

For the purpose of a greater opening of the consultation process and the "discovery" of new relevant actors, a public procedure was opted for consisting in the publication (on the institutional sites of Sicily and Malta and on that of the OP IT MT) of an event of interest for the collection of applications from those interested in defining the Programme.

The identification of this procedure was necessary to fill any absences - eg. Municipalities of the area and free municipal consortia (former provinces) - in the list of relevant partners identified.

On 28 July 2021 at 2.00 pm in online mode, a restricted technical meeting of Task-Force 21-27 components of the INTERREG Italy Malta Program was held for the updates and for the operative definition  of the consultation process described.

In this period TF work concerned the provisional framework of the specific objectives to be launched for public consultation.

For the purposes of an overall framework of the preliminary strategy of the future Italia-Malta programme with respect to the Mediterranean scenario (WESTEMED) and the mainstream OP ERDF Sicily, the broad coherences and potential synergies have been identified.

The provisional framework of the specific objectives is downloadable below

On May 5th , 2021, at 9:30 a.m., the third meeting of the Task Force for the preparation of the Italy Malta Programme for the 2021-2027 programming period took place.

The meeting took place through video conference due to the Covid-19 emergency restrictions and the following members were present::

Managing Authority (chairing for the time)
Dipartimento Politiche di Coesione/Cohesion Policy Department
Agenzia per la Coesione Territoriale/Agency for Territorial Cohesion
Regione Siciliana - Dipartimento dell’Ambiente/Sicilian Region - Department of the Environment
Regione Siciliana – Dipartimento della Famiglia e delle Politiche sociali/Sicilian Region – Department of Family and Social Policies
Regione Siciliana – Dipartimento regionale della Programmazione/Sicilian Region – Regional Department of Programming
Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) - Strategy and Implementation Division (SID), Office of the Prime Minister Funds and Programmes Division (FPD), OPM
Ministry for Finance and Financial Services (MFIN)
Ministry for Gozo (MGOZ)
European Commission
Joint Secretariat
NVVIP Sicilia (Invited Experts)

The agenda provided for that to Task Force members were illustrated the reasons for the selection of the Policy Objectives and Specific Objectives relating to the Italia-Malta 21-27 programme draft; that the first reflections on the distribution in percentage terms of the financial allocations of ERDF resources among the policy objectives of the Italia-Malta 21-27 programme were transmitted; and that members were updated on the drafting of the Environmental Report and on the ex ante Evaluation of the Italia-Malta 21-27 programme.

The members of the Task Force then discussed and commented on the policy and specific objectives to be included in the new program, referring the possible financial allocations to subsequent considerations.

They were informed of the start of the process of defining the environmental report to be integrated with Maltese data as soon as available.

With respect to the ex ante evaluation of the program, although not foreseen by the general regulation proposal,  Task Force members appreciated that it will be carried out at the end of the drafting of the programme and this in order to ensure maximum consistency with regional, national and Community policies.

Since the Task Force had previously approved "the Territorial Analysis of the Cooperation Area for the period 2021-2027" and the document " Consultation process with the partnership for the Italia Malta 2021-2027 Programme", at this meeting the TF was informed of the forthcoming start of activities for the organization of thematic round tables that will involve the qualified partnership of the area in discussing the main themes of the programme in order to define a list of eligible actions.

The work ended keeping update at the next meeting

In the Mediterranean area, 3 online technical seminars organized by the INTERACT Program have already taken place. The first in June 2020 focused on “WHICH issue to work on jointly”; the second in September 2020 focused on "WHO does what" to ensure synergies between the programmes and the third in January 2021 which focused on "HOW to improve inter-program coordination in the Mediterranean between Interreg programmes".

As a functional follow-up to the latter, a fourth online technical seminar was organized on 28 April 2021. Based on the information to be provided in sections 1.2 and 2.1.2 of the programme’s template, this seminar focused on “TOOLS and THEMES”.

Two important aspects were discussed during the seminar: tools that can make inter-program coordination and thematic choices of the Task Forces effective; possible operations \ activities programmes may finance under each theme.

In addition to the Managing Authorities and the Joint Secretariats of the programmes, the Commission also participated in the seminar with Jean Pierre Halkin and Pascal Boijmans, DG Regio, who gave updates on the INTERREG programmes.The current INTERACT HIT, Jems and Keep tools were then presented.

During the session it was explained what they are for and how they could potentially improve synergies and coordination between programmes.

The discussion then continued in different groupings (break out rooms) on the programmes thematic choices updates for the subsequent period based on the Task Forces decisions and the possible activities programmes may finance.

After the discussions in the break out room, the seminar ended.

The second day of work, January 26th, 2021, began with the illustration of the beneficiaries' experiences for the topic "Inter-programme coordination in Natural Disaster and risk reduction based on the beneficiaries experience” with the presentation pf projects:

Calypso South. Giuseppe Ciraolo, Italia Malta

PortoDiMare. Olga Sedioli, Adrion EUSAIR

MEDISS. Amal Orabi, ENI CBC MED

Works then moved on to the “Sub-geographic thematic discussions”.
Considering the existing territorial frameworks in the Mediterranean area (EUSAIR, WESTMED) and in the Eastern Mediterranean programmes, with the aim of working on complementarities based on the kind of operations financed within the different topics: Natural disasters and risk reduction. Clean Mediterranean. Sustainable tourism and culture. Blue growth.

At the conclusion of the work and to discuss the same issues, the participants were then divided into three discussion groups according to the geographical area of interest, namely Western Mediterranean area - Central Mediterranean area - Eastern Mediterranean area.

The next meeting was scheduled for April 2021, to discuss tools for coordination, complementarity of operations between TN and CBC, approach to the project chain; territorial framework for cooperation and confirmation of specific objectives and themes.

The third Interact seminar organized in January 2021 focused on HOW, i.e. how to improve inter-programme coordination between Interreg programmes.

The aim of the seminar is to ease the exchange and brainstorming of ideas in order to facilitate the task forces of the different programs to make their own decisions

The Seminar examined the following elements for brainstorming:
- Interreg inter-program coordination initiatives existing inside and outside the Mediterranean area.
-Definition and form of the common text to be completed in sections 1.2 and 2.1.2 of the cooperation programs.
-Territorial frameworks existing in the area: EUSAIR and WESTMED.
-Nature of the different Transnational and CBC program (Interreg Internal Frontiers, Interreg NEXT and Interreg IPA).

Organized on an online platform, the agenda of the seminar developed over two half days in the morning.

On the first day, January 25th, 2021, the European Commission presented the updates on the Next Regulations Interreg 2021-2027 with the interventions of Pascal Boijmans and Jean Pierre Halkin.

In summary, it was communicated that Coreper on 16 December 2020 adopted a consolidated version of "confirmation of the final compromise text" which includes the annex - programme template and that publication in the Official Journal together with the CPR, ERDF and ESF+ regulations is expected for late May / early June; that the total budget for Interreg cooperation amounts to 8,050 million euros with a specific co-financing rate of 80% (85% for the programs of the ultra-peripheral regions).

There has been an update on the Architecture of the Interreg Regulation; on thematic concentration and next steps, i.e. implementing acts of Interreg (in close cooperation with Member States) and adoption of the programme.

Also in the same morning, with the aim of making known the inter-programme coordination initiatives existing inside and outside the Mediterranean area, intervened

Monica Bellisario. Dipartimento per le politiche di ceoesione. Italia
Jean Luc Frés. Agence nationale de la cohésion des territoires Francia.
Laura Righi. Interreg Italy France Maritime.
Curzio Cervelli. Interreg MED.
Aldo Puleo and Martin Heibel. Interreg Next MED.
Lodovico Gherardi. Interreg Adrion.

The first day of work has been concluded with the session, moderated by Interact and TESIM, entitled Shaping a common text for the programmes to fill in section 1.2 and 2.1.2 of their Cooperation programmes.

The seminar, held online due to COVID restrictions, was organized in a single morning session from 9:30am to 12:00pm.

Its general objective was to strengthen the cooperation envisaged by the ETC Regulation, from the programming process to its implementation, for a greater impact on the territory and efficiency using public funds in the Mediterranean area.

The WHAT seminar specifically intended to initiate the discussion between the authorities of the programs falling under the ETC regulation linked by functional area and explore the need for a coordination mechanism / solution to address geographical challenges, identify issues and build synergies.

The seminar included the Commission interventions of the State of Play & Main by Jean Pierre Halkin, REGIO D1 and Pascal Boijmans, REGIO D2.

At the end, an informal discussion followed where the programs shared information on the expected times for the adoption of the OP; on the assessment of territorial needs highlighting the main possible challenges / issues to be faced in the area.

The WHAT seminar was followed by INTERACT with the organization of two other seminars called WHO and HOW.

On the 23rd of April 2020 the first meeting of the Task Force for the preparation of the INTERREG Italia Malta programme for the 2021-2027 programming period took place.

The meeting took place via video conference due to the restrictions related to the COVID-19 emergency

The working documents were sent by the Joint Secretariat one week before to the invited participants.

The agenda basically provided for the approval of the agenda, the approval of the task force rules of procedure, the approval of the work plan and the time schedule of the 2021-2027 task force works.

At the meeting were present the following members:

Managing Authority chairing the Task Force
Dipartimento Politiche di Coesione
Agenzia per la Coesione Territoriale
Regione Sicilia - Dipartimento Ambiente
Regione Sicilia – Dipartimento Famiglia
Regione Sicilia - votermembro con diritto di voto
Malta - Funds and Programmes Division Programmes and Projects
Malta - Strategy and Implementation Division
Malta - Funds and Programmes Division - Territorial Cooperation 2014-2020 Unit
European Commission
Joint Secretariat

In line with the agenda, the Task Force decided on its own Settlement and its own Constitution.

After sharing and discussing the documents to be approved (Internal Regulations, Work Plan and Timeline of the 2021-2027 task force), following the various changes made to the original documents, the participants agreed to postpone the approval of the same through a written procedure.

On 27/04/2020 the Managing Authority therefore initiated the written procedure and the members of the task force were able to express their position in writing within the term of ten (10) calendar days following the date of receipt of the communication of start.

On 19/05/2020 the Managing Authority sent the members of the task force the communication of the closure of the written procedure for the approval of the internal regulations and the work plan for the 2021-2027 programming activities. approved with the amendments and additions received by the Italian delegation and the Maltese delegation and included in the version of 15/05/2020.

On the basis of the guidelines of the MOP and taking into account the time schedule of the community legislator, the establishment procedure of the Task Force for the preparation of the Italia-Malta 2021-2027 Cooperation Programme in line with the provisions of the draft regulation 374 / 2018 was initiated.

The Task Force is responsible for analyzing the results of the evaluation of the 2014-2020 period, the strategic frameworks relevant to the cooperation area and the needs of the territories involved; to determine common challenges and strategic and operational responses in terms of objectives, priorities, actions, etc; to allocate resources by Objectives and priorities / methods of integration of the funds; to identify the operating methods of the Programme and the Programme Authorities / bodies.

In this first phase, with reference to the composition of the 2021-2027 task force, an initial composition proposal was made which included Members with the right to vote (up to 4 representatives of each MS; up to 2 representatives for each of the eligible territories NUTS 2 / NUTS 3 level chosen from: local NUTS 2 and NUTS 3 level institutions, universities and / or associations of municipalities;) and Members without voting rights (the European Commission; economic and social partnership; any other subjects, with the agreement of the TF).

On 21/02/2020, the Managing Authority of the INTERREG V-A Italia Malta programme launched the written procedure of the Monitoring Committee for the approval of the constitution and composition of the 2021-2027 task force, as well as the use of financial resources of the technical assistance plan of the INTERREG V-A Italia-Malta 2014-2020 programme to allow the Managing Authority and the Maltese National Coordination Authority to cope with the activities of the 2021-2027 task force.

On 05/03/2020 the written procedure was concluded with the approval of the constitution of the 2021-2027 task force and the authorization to use the financial resources of the technical assistance plan of the INTERREG V-A Italia-Malta 2014-2020 programme to make dealing with the activities of the task force 2021-2027.

According to the guidelines indicated in the MOP, the Italia-Malta cross-border programme should focus on a limited number of objectives in which cross-border cooperation can make a difference and be sustainable; it should ensure coordination with the Main Programs and cooperate with other Mediterranean cross-border programmes to increase the impact on joint or parallel projects.

In this perspective of coordination and cooperation, for the future Italia-Malta programme, the MOP indicates to support

- research and innovation provided that supported actions correspond to local needs and are aligned with national or regional Smart Specialization Strategies;

- transnational business programmes linked to research and innovation and to the promotion of the blue economy, necessarily providing for the active participation of professional registers / trade associations;

- jointly alternative forms of sustainable and environmentally friendly tourism also with a view to seasonally adjusting visitor flows;

- maritime security not only in the border area of the Italia-Malta programme, but also in close cooperation with the other cross-border maritime programmes in the Mediterranean Sea;

- environmental and coastal protection, including from marine litter, from climate change;

- risk management and development of renewable energies, also supporting small renewable energy grids in order to reduce energy dependence.

Furthermore, given the strong economic ties between Malta and Sicily, joint projects for professional skills could be developed. The mapping of skills required on both sides of the border and skills development strategies could be supported under the specific objective "Better INTERREG governance" as well as the identification and mapping of actual legal and administrative obstacles by proposing possible solutions.

On 6 December 2019, the services of the European Commission sent the Maritime Orientation Paper (MOP) Cross-Border Cooperation in the Mediterranean area to the Authorities of the INTERREG V-A Italia-Malta programme relating to the reprogramming activities for the period 2021-2027 of the cooperation programmes existing cross-border borders in the Mediterranean Sea. The European Commission has sought to promote a more territorial approach to future Interreg programmes, highlighting how cooperation around sea-basins needs to reflect the specific territorial features of these areas and their overwhelming maritime dimension. Many of the important challenges faced by Member States and regions around the Mediterranean call for action to address environmental challenges at sea and in coastal areas, accessibility and connectivity should not be tackled in a fragmented way. This document presents an analysis of the Italia-Malta cross-border area from a socio-economic, cultural and institutional point of view and offers food for thought (guidelines) with reference to growth, competitiveness and connectivity, green economy, work, education, health and inclusion.